Stephanie Edmonds, PhD, MPH, RN is a Clinical-Based Nurse Scientist committed to transforming healthcare through practical, sustainable, and patient-centered innovation. With a deep belief in the power of collaboration and continuous learning, she partners with clinical nurses, clinicians, and health services researchers to bridge the gap between evidence and everyday practice.
Stephanie is the lead author of Evidence-Based Practice in Action(2nd ed.) and the creator of the Iowa Implementation for Sustainability Framework—tools that reflect her dedication to making research accessible, actionable, and enduring. Her work is grounded in the values of curiosity, integrity, equity, and reproductive justice, and her goal is to empower front-line clinicians to lead meaningful, measurable change.
She currently serves as Chair of the Board of Directors for the Emma Goldman Clinic—one of the first reproductive health clinics in the U.S.—where she advocates for inclusive, community-based reproductive healthcare. In 2020, she was honored as one of the 100 Top Iowa Nurses.
Dr. Nicole Loew is a nurse scientist, strategist, and advocate with a deep commitment to advancing sexual and reproductive health equity—especially for women living in rural communities. She earned her PhD in Nursing from the University of Iowa, where her research focused on how women’s social and geographic contexts shape their understanding of sexual health and influence their sexual behaviors.
Nicole completed a post-doctoral fellowship in quality improvement at the Iowa City VA, where she worked at the intersection of evidence-based practice and systems-level change. Her work has been published in both academic journals and platforms for the general public, bridging the gap between research and real-world impact.
In 2024, Nicole ran for Iowa State Senate, motivated by a belief that who you are and where you live—your zip code—should never determine your access to health, dignity, or opportunity. Today, she brings that same passion to her work as founder of Woman Centered Health, where she consults with healthcare leaders, policymakers, and organizations to design more inclusive, effective, and community-informed programs.
With one foot in science and one in strategy, Nicole is known for helping institutions hear—and act on—the needs of the women they serve.
OUR VALUES
Evidence
We believe decisions should be informed by the best available evidence –quantitative data, qualitative research, and lived experience.
Evidence is not neutral. It reflects what we choose to measure and whose experiences we value. We ensure evidence is rigorous, inclusive, and usable – not abstract or performative.
Justice
We believe systems should work fairly for the people who rely on them.
Justice means examining how policies distribute benefit and burden – and naming when those distributions produce harm. We center women’s health because inequities surface there first.
Integrity
We believe trust is built through honesty, clarity, and accountability.
We do not dilute evidence, obscure tradeoffs, or offer false neutrality. Our role is to support better decisions – not easier narratives.
Compassion
We believe compassion strengthens systems and leadership.
Compassion means designing for real constraints, taking lived experiences seriously, and recognizing the human impact of policy and system choices. It is essential for sustainable leadership and long-term system health.
